The government has today (Monday 16 September) published the terms of reference for the independent review of the Prevent programme.

This follows the appointment of Lord Carlile to lead the review.

The review will focus on the current delivery of Prevent and make recommendations for the future of the government’s strategy for safeguarding those vulnerable to radicalisation. This will include looking at how effectively Prevent is delivered at local and national levels, how effectively the Prevent statutory duty is being implemented, how it might be improved to respond to justified criticisms and complaints, and how it interacts with other safeguarding strategies.

The review will report to Parliament by August 2020.

Security Minister Brandon Lewis said:

Prevent is an absolutely vital part of our efforts to stop people from being drawn into or supporting terrorism. Since 2012, more than 1,700 people have been steered away from terrorism via the Channel programme, which provides confidential, tailored support for individuals at risk of radicalisation.

We know that Prevent is successfully stopping people being drawn into terrorism, and this review will give us further evidence of what works well, while also suggesting areas for improvements. I look forward to seeing these recommendations.

Independent reviewer of Prevent Lord Carlile said:

This review is an opportunity to take stock of what Prevent looks like in practice, what’s working and what isn’t, and identify what improvements need to be made to respond to how the threat might change in the future.

Making these terms of reference public is an important step. It paves the way to my engagement with a wide range of those interested in the UK’s strategy for safeguarding those vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism, both critics and supporters alike, in an independent and open way. This will include a formal call for evidence in the coming weeks and a series of roadshows over the Autumn and Winter.

The purpose of Prevent is to safeguard vulnerable people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, by engaging with those who are identified as being vulnerable to radicalisation or targeting by terrorist recruiters.

Prevent deals with all forms of terrorism, including Islamist and extreme right wing, and does not focus on any one community.

The Prevent duty came into force as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and ensures that specified authorities have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. It covers schools, colleges, universities, health, local authorities, police, and prisons. Delivery of Prevent in these sectors will be considered as part of the review.

The Prime Minister and President Juncker had a constructive meeting this lunchtime. The Brexit Secretary and Michel Barnier were also in attendance.

The leaders took stock of the ongoing talks between the UK’s team and Taskforce 50. The Prime Minister reconfirmed his commitment to the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and his determination to reach a deal with the backstop removed, that UK parliamentarians could support. The Prime Minister also reiterated that he would not request an extension and would take the UK out of the EU on the 31st October.

The leaders agreed that the discussions needed to intensify and that meetings would soon take place on a daily basis. It was agreed that talks should also take place at a political level between Michel Barnier and the Brexit Secretary, and conversations would also continue between President Juncker and the Prime Minister.

Published 16 September 2019

The UK Government has today (Monday 16 September) launched a major information campaign urging UK nationals living in Hungary to get ready for Brexit on 31 October. It is part of a wider communications campaign effort across Europe.

UK nationals in Hungary will receive information about specific actions they need to take to keep their rights and access to services in Hungary, including around residency, healthcare, driving licences and passports.

The campaign will use multiple channels – including Facebook posts urging people to take action ahead of 31 October.

The British Embassy has already been doing a lot over recent months to inform UK nationals, including town hall information meetings with the Ambassador, Consular experts and Hungarian government officials. Our next town hall meeting will take place in Budapest on 24 September and you can register here.

Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Hungary, said:

Protecting the rights of UK nationals is an absolute priority as we leave the European Union. I’d urge UK nationals to visit our Living in Guide for Hungary where they can find out about the steps they need to take and get specific information about residency, healthcare, passports and driving in Hungary.

There are more than one million UK nationals living in the EU, with around 5000 living in Hungary.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

We are stepping up efforts to ensure Britons abroad are prepared for Brexit on 31 October. This campaign provides practical advice to the more than one million British people living in the EU, as well as British tourists and business travellers.

The UK Government recently announced up to £3 million in grant funding for charities and other voluntary organisations who can inform UK nationals about the need to register or apply for residency and to support them as they complete their applications.

The Government also allocated an extra £300,000 to British Embassies and Consulates across the EU to engage with ‘hard to reach’ UK nationals such as disabled people, those living in remote areas or people who might need extra help to complete any paperwork in preparation for Brexit.

This extra assistance will build on the support that British Embassies are already providing with more than 541 outreach events with UK nationals since November 2017.

The new information campaign asks UK nationals to take action to prepare for Brexit by checking the Living in Hungary Guide at gov.uk/livinginhungary and:

• apply for residency
• register for healthcare
• check their passport is valid for travel

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister Heather Wheeler began her visit today (16 September) in Vientiane and will meet Laotian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sengphet Houngboungnuang to discuss the bilateral relationship, including trade. She will also meet Health Minister Bounkong Sihavong to discuss UK-Laos co-operation in tackling anti-microbial resistance. The Minister will visit UK funded de-mining projects that work with international and local partners to clear existing mines and educate the local population about the risk of mines in the region.

The Minister will also:

• meet female national parliamentarians to discuss the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s support to the National Assembly
• see how rugby has transformed the lives of young women and girls in Laos
• meet with students in Vientiane to discuss the illegal wildlife trade

On Tuesday, the Minister will travel to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh where she will meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, H. E. Prak Sokhonn. The Minister will also meet her counterparts with responsibility for key elements of the UK-Cambodian bilateral partnership; the Senior Minister for Mine Action, the Minister of Environment, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Women’s Affairs.

Minister Wheeler will finish her 4-day visit in Bangkok, where she will meet the new Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Dr Vijavat Isarabhakdi. They will discuss the UK-Thai relationship, collaboration on climate change and on tackling the illegal wildlife trade with the Minister for Environment. She will meet the British Council to discuss their work on education.

The Minister will discuss the role of women in politics with female Thai parliamentarians and see the important work the consular team do with Thai partners to support the victims of rape and sexual assault.

As countries vulnerable to climate change, droughts and flooding, Minister Wheeler will use her conversations in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to emphasise co-operation on climate issues and UK leadership, including hosting COP 26 in Glasgow in 2020.

Speaking ahead of her visit to the region, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific Heather Wheeler said:

Brexit is an opportunity for the UK to think in a truly global manner. In that spirit, and as the Minister for Asia-Pacific, I want to build a stronger relationship with the countries of South East Asia.

Through this visit I will demonstrate the UK’s commitment to supporting the people of the Mekong and I look forward to discussing trade opportunities, the role of women in society and global challenges like climate change.

Speaking on the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Laos, their Chief Executive Anthony Smith said:

Promoting gender equality is an important part of our work worldwide, including in Laos. That is why we are engaging with the National Assembly to help ensure new laws such as the Gender Equality Bill deliver better protection for women, in line with Laos’ international commitments.

Background

UK-funded de-mining programmes in Cambodia have directly benefited over 185,000 Cambodians. In Laos, over 6 million square metres of contaminated land has already been cleared, directly benefiting almost 8000 people, and a further 6,895 people have educated about mine risks.

Further information

More than 25,000 companies missed last year’s September accounts deadline and incurred a late filing penalty as a result.

30 September marks a common deadline for many companies, and a total of 25,049 companies failed to meet this date for filing in 2018.

Another 643 companies narrowly avoided a penalty, filing their accounts in the final hour before the deadline. In total, 223,640 late filing penalties were handed out in 2018.

Last year we revealed some of the most bizarre excuses that some people have given for failing to file their accounts on time.

Bizarre late filing excuses

With this year’s deadline fast approaching, we’re urging people to file their accounts on time and online by using our quick, simple and secure digital services.

Senior Enforcement Manager Ian Gronland said:

With the summer holidays over and the school year now upon us, September can be a busy time for many people.

However, if you are a company director you should be aware of your responsibilities to file annual accounts with Companies House on time. Failure to do so will result in a late filing penalty.

Filing electronically is easier and faster, and our digital services have in-built checks to ensure that any necessary information is provided before accounts can be submitted.

These figures include all corporate bodies to which late filing penalties apply, such as private limited companies and limited liability partnerships.

This information forms part of management information and is unaudited. Therefore, it is subject to change and should be used for indicative purposes only.

Our official statistics are produced on a quarterly and annual basis. This information may be included in future releases of our statistics.